Calbiotech Joins MetroConnect Program to Expand International Growth

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Calbiotech, Inc. is pleased to announce it has been selected to take part in the MetroConnect Program, a comprehensive export support program run by the World Trade Center San Diego and designed to help San Diego companies accelerate their global growth. The announcement will be made later today by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and World Trade Center San Diego.

This program will allow Calbiotech to pursue new foreign markets and trade partnerships through travel, exhibitions in international trade shows and foreign language translations of their product and marketing materials.

“We are proud and honored to be selected to participate in the MetroConnect Program, “ said David Barka, Vice President of Calbiotech. “The products we manufacture serve both research and healthcare markets all over the world. As we continue to grow our export sales, having the compliance, financial and strategic expertise of the World Trade Center San Diego will be a great advantage to our team.”

The MetroConnect Program, a flagship initiative of World Trade Center San Diego, seeks to cultivate a pipeline of export-ready firms to elevate San Diego’s global reach. Similar to the 2015 pilot round, program participants will receive a $10,000 grant, presented by JPMorgan Chase, to assist with international expansion strategies. In 2016, the MetroConnect Program has created additional support services to directly help participating companies. Program participants will have access to a dedicated trade and investment manager at WTC San Diego and will receive guidance on export compliance, financing and fundraising and global marketing, amongst other areas of relevance.

“We applaud Calbiotech for taking the next step in going global,” said Nikia Clarke, executive director of World Trade Center San Diego. “The MetroConnect Program is essentially a business accelerator program for globally-minded companies. The funding and guidance provided by the prize will help Calbiotech explore new world markets, resulting in economic growth for San Diego.”

In total, 73 San Diego companies applied for acceptance into the MetroConnect Program. Fifteen companies were selected based on a variety of criteria, including interest in new markets, interest in targeted metro markets, assessed impact of funds, current international traction and more. Applicants were assessed by a panel of judges, including representatives from Applied Membranes, Biocom, Qualcomm Ventures, San Diego Regional EDC, San Diego State University, Taylor Guitars, Tech San Diego, U.S. Department of Commerce, UC San Diego and World Trade Center San Diego.

Participating companies will also be considered for the program’s MetroConnect Grand Prize Pitchfest in November 2016, which will provide an additional $35,000 to help one or two companies further advance their global agendas.

About Calbiotech, Inc.
Calbiotech develops, manufactures and distributes immunoassay products, including ELISA and CLIA kits, random access magnetic bead assays, coated microplates, reagents, buffers and other components which are offered to major reference labs, pharmaceutical companies, universities and research centers in the U.S. and to over 80 countries around the world. Calbiotech operates under cGMP and ISO 13485 Standards in an FDA Registered Facility in El Cajon, California. http://www.calbiotech.com

About World Trade Center San Diego
World Trade Center San Diego operates as an affiliate of San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. WTC San Diego works to further San Diego’s global competitiveness by building an export pipeline, attracting and retaining foreign investment, and increasing San Diego’s global profile abroad. sandiegobusiness.org/wtcsd
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